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Topic: Need advice on stirrer plate (Read 2453 times)

Just starting to make yeast starters. Noticed the cell count is much higher if a stir plate is used. Stir plates run from $70 to over $200. What do you use? Want one that runs quietly.

Currently use a 3 L wine jug with a cap drilled and grommeted for an airlock. What would be the benefit of getting a 3 L flask, assuming the stir bar will remain centered in the concave bottom of the wine jug? Any thoughts on what size stir bar to get?

Currently use a 3 L wine jug with a cap drilled and grommeted for an airlock.

You want max growth with a starter which, among other things, means maximum oxygen exchange. For that reason, it's better not to use an airlock for a starter. Just cover the top with sanitized aluminum foil.

Another user of the stir starter here. Although I did feel kind of foolish after I opened it up and saw that it's a pretty simple build. Also got a Midwest Supplies yeast starter kit but I find that the best thing I like about it is the foam stopper as the flasks and the DME can be found anywhere.

FYI: I recently played with PWM (pulse witdth modulation) for fan speed control and it works much better than using voltage to control fan speed. But it does require a few more parts and soldering skills.